Packaging container for car floor mats

Abstract

A packaging container for a car floor mat including: a main body; at least one post member extending from the main body for supporting the car floor mat, and a securing arrangement releasably secured to the post member, the car floor mat being retained on the post member when the securing arrangement is secured to the post member, the car floor mat being removable from the packaging container when the securing arrangement is released from the post member, wherein the securing arrangement includes a catch supported on the main body by a hinged connection, the catch including a ring member for encircling the post member when engaging the post member, the ring member having an inwardly directed engagement member for engaging an overbite provided on the post member when the catch is hinged towards and interlocks with the post member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A packaging container for a car floor mat, comprising:
 a main body; 
 two post members extending from one side of the main body, the two post members being in spaced relation and parallel to one another, each of the two post members having a circular cross-section and a free end opposite its connection to the main body, each free end having a slot opening; 
 two catches pivotally connected to the main body adjacent the two post members, each of the two catches being releasably engageable with a respective one of the two post members, each of the two catches comprising: 
 a ring member connected to the main body through a pivotal connection, the ring member including two finger rests defined along an outer potion thereof; 
 a tooth disposed on an inner portion of the ring member between the two finger rests, the tooth extending inwardly towards the post member when the ring member is pivoted to overlap the post member, the post member extending through a central opening of the ring member; 
 wherein the tooth is disposed within the slot of the respective one of the two post members when the catch is pivoted into an interlocked position; 
 a tongue integrated with the ring member, the tongue extending at least partially into the central opening of the ring member such that the tongue abuts an outer surface of the post member when the catch is pivoted into the interlocked position; 
 wherein the ring member is deformable when a squeezing force is applied by a user on the finger rests, the ring member deforming from a generally circular shape to an elongated, elliptical shape, such that a portion of the ring member onto which the tooth is disposed is displaced away from the post member sufficiently for the tooth to clear the slot opening and permit the catch to pivot from the interlocked position to an open position and swing away from the post member, 
 wherein each of the tooth and the tongue has a different shape, the tooth having a concave-shaped free end having a radius that substantially corresponds to a diameter of the respective post where the slot opening is located, the tongue having a concave-shaped free end that mates with a circular profile of the respective post when the catch is in the interlocked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein each post member includes a tapered surface at its free end for engaging the respective tooth as the catch moves from the open position to the interlocked position. 
     
     
       3. The packaging container of  claim 2 , wherein the slot opening on each of the two post members is disposed adjacent the respective tapered surface. 
     
     
       4. The packaging container of  claim 1 , further comprising an integral hook portion formed in the main body. 
     
     
       5. The packaging container of  claim 1 , further comprising a planar extension connected to the main body, the planar extension disposed on the main body opposite the two post members. 
     
     
       6. The packaging container of  claim 1 , wherein the slot opening extends transversely relative to a longitudinal dimension of the post member. 
     
     
       7. The packaging container of  claim 1 , wherein the main body, the two post members, and the two catches are integrally together as a single component. 
     
     
       8. The packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the main body has a generally flat shape that includes reinforcement webbing configured to provide structural strength to the main body in an area between the two post members. 
     
     
       9. The packaging container of  claim 7 , wherein the main body includes openings that clear the two catches when the two catches are in their respective open positions.